LETTER: MacArthur continues to work against his own constituents by Michael Downey Brick​​Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., was the only New Jersey representative to vote for so-called tax reform. His vote was a vote against me and my family. I’m a lifelong resident of Brick and a homeowner. As a working-class New Jerseyan I see his support for this bill as personal attack on us.

I consider myself blessed. I can do what matters most — look out for my family. I work shift work in retail and live paycheck to paycheck. I have an unpredictable schedule each week. But no matter what, I have been able to maintain my home and help support my disabled brother who lives with me and is on Medicaid.

This callous bill will make daily living more difficult, with an increase in taxes on many working and middle-class families, the cap of the state and local tax deduction, and the inevitable cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. But it probably will not hurt MacArthur, a millionaire who made his fortune in the world of insurance whose wealth is said to exceed $37 million.

Time and again, MacArthur chooses to work against his own constituents and allies himself with the multibillion dollar corporations. Time will show that he is on the wrong side of history. We should all be ready to defend programs people like my brother and others count on such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.